Improvements in or relating to support frames for vehicles

Abstract

A modular support frame for a vehicle comprising at least two frame modules, wherein the at least two frame modules are configured to be attachable to one another at more than one location.

Description

Claims

1. A modular support frame for a vehicle comprising: at least two frame modules,wherein the at least two frame modules are configured to be attachable to one another at more than one location.

2. The modular support frame of claim 1, wherein the modular support frame is configured to be attachable to a base portion, floor portion, or load carrying area of the vehicle.

3. The modular support frame of claim 2, wherein the modular support frame is configured to be attachable to: at least one area, or space, between a side portion/wall member and the load carrying area of the vehicle; each area, or space, between the side portions/wall members of the vehicle and the load carrying area of the vehicle; or each area, or space, between the side portions/wall members of the vehicle, at least one area, or space, between a front portion of the vehicle and the load carrying area of the vehicle.

4. The modular support frame of claim 2, wherein the modular support frame is configured to be attachable to one or more side portions/wall members of the vehicle.

5. The modular support frame of claim 2, wherein the modular support frame is configured to be attachable to the vehicle such that it is spaced from a base portion, floor portion, or load carrying area of the vehicle.

6. The modular support frame of claim 1, wherein the modular support frame is configured to be attachable to one or more attachment points on the vehicle.

7. The modular support frame of claim 6, wherein the one or more attachment points of the vehicle are located: on the base portion, floor portion, or load carrying area of the vehicle; outside the load carrying area of the vehicle; in an area, or space, between a side portion/wall member of the vehicle and the load carrying area of the vehicle; in an area, or space, between each side portion/wall member of the vehicle and the load carrying area of the vehicle; in an area, or space, between the front portion of the vehicle and the load carrying area of the vehicle; in an area, or space, between the rear portion of the vehicle and the load carrying area of the vehicle; or in an area, or space, between each side portion/wall member of the vehicle and the load carrying area of the vehicle, and an area, or space, between the front portion of the vehicle and the load carrying area of the vehicle.

8. The modular support frame of claim 6, wherein the one or more attachment points of the vehicle are located on at least one, or both, of the side portions/wall members of the vehicle.

9. (canceled)

10. The modular support frame of claim 6, wherein the modular support frame includes one or more vehicle attachment members, the one or more vehicle attachment members being configured to be releasably engageable with the one or more attachment points of the vehicle.

11. The modular support frame of claim 10, wherein the one or more vehicle attachment members are located on at least one of the front portion, rear portion, side portion(s), upper portion, or lower portion of the modular support frame, wherein the modular support frame is configured such that the location of the vehicle attachment members on the modular support frame are arranged to align with the location of the one or more attachment points on the vehicle.

12. The modular support frame of claim 1, wherein the modular support frame further comprises one or more support legs, or leg members, the one or more support legs, or leg members, being configured to provide support to the modular support frame when the modular support frame is attached to the base portion, floor portion, or load carrying area of the vehicle.

13. The modular support frame of claim 12, wherein the modular support frame includes one or more vehicle attachment members, the one or more vehicle attachment members being configured to be releasably engageable with the one or more attachment points of the vehicle, wherein the one or more vehicle attachment members are located on the one or more support legs, or leg members.

14. The modular support frame of claim 13, wherein the vehicle attachment members of the modular support frame include releasable fastening devices, such that the modular support frame may be releasably attachable to the vehicle.

15. (canceled)

16. The modular support frame of claim 14, wherein at least one of the at least two frame modules of the modular support frame includes one or more vehicle attachment members, and the one or more support legs, or leg members.

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. The modular support frame of claim 1, wherein the modular support frame may include a plurality of frame modules, each frame module being configured to be attachable to one another at more than one location.

20. The modular support frame of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two frame modules is configured to provide support to an article or object mounted thereon, or thereto.

21. The modular support frame of claim 20, wherein the modular support frame and/or the at least two frame modules includes one or more article, or object, attachment members, the one or more article, or object, attachment members being configured to releasably engage with the article, or object.

22. The modular support frame claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two frame modules has a length (L), width (W) and height (H), and the length (L), width (W) and height (H) of each frame module is an integer multiple.

23. (canceled)

24. A modular support frame for a vehicle comprising: one or more frame modules; anda frame module support member, wherein the frame module support member is attachable to the vehicle and is configured to provide support to the one or more frame modules.

25-29. (canceled)

30. A method of installing a modular support frame to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a modular support frame for a vehicle comprising: at least two frame modules,wherein the at least two frame modules are configured to be attachable to one another at more than one location;positioning a first frame module at a first location within the vehicle;aligning one or more vehicle attachment points of the first frame module with one or more modular support frame attachment points of the vehicle;attaching the first frame module to the vehicle;positioning a second frame module at a second location within the vehicle;aligning one or more vehicle attachment points of the second frame module with one or more modular support frame attachment points of the vehicle;attaching the second frame module to the vehicle; andattaching the first and second frame modules together.

31. (canceled)